CLIFFORD CELEBRATION – North Bergen Pre-Kindergarten students celebrated Clifford the Big Red Dog’s birthday on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Pre-K complex inside James Braddock Park. Children were treated to a reading, book giveaways, a birthday cake, and much more.

On Oct. 16, NJ Sharing Network, the non-profit organization responsible for the recovery of organs and tissue for nearly 5,000 New Jersey residents awaiting life-saving transplants, presented Palisades Medical Center with its Circle of Life Award. The honor is awarded to New Jersey hospitals during NJ Sharing Networks 25th anniversary year who demonstrate a steadfast commitment to saving and enhancing lives through the miracle of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

According to a press release, Palisades Medical Center received the prestigious award during a ceremony at the North Bergen hospital for its long-standing commitment to assist NJ Sharing Network with the recovery of organs and tissue after a patient has passed away. Organs recovered from one patient can save up to eight lives, while tissue, such as skin, bone, heart valves and corneas, can enhance the lives of up to 50 patients.

NJ Sharing Network officials, joined by donor mother Maria Perez of North Bergen, thanked hospital staff for their commitment to organ and tissue recovery and the gift of life it gives others, and presented Bruce Markowitz, president and CEO of Palisades Medical Center, with the award.

“Organ donation and transplantation is a complex and rare medical procedure,” said Joseph Roth, president and chief executive officer of NJ Sharing Network. “Having a hospital partner like Palisades Medical Center that continuously demonstrates its commitment to fulfill an organ donor’s final wishes gives more hope to the thousands of New Jersey patients who are on the transplant waiting list. NJ Sharing Network is honored to have such a dedicated partner and presents our Circle of Life Award to Palisades Medical Center as an expression of thanks for all it has done to support organ donation and transplantation.”

Over the years, Palisades Medical Center has worked closely with NJ Sharing Network to honor the decisions of individuals or their families to donate organs and tissue in a caring and compassionate manner, with an end result of a patient receiving a desperately needed transplant.

“We thank our friends at NJ Sharing Network for recognizing Palisades Medical Center’s year-round commitment to help save and enhance lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation,” said Markowitz. “We are proud of our ongoing community health fairs that are working to educate local residents about the great work of our partners at NJ Sharing Network.”

To learn more about organ and tissue donation, contact NJ Sharing Network at (800) 742-7365 or visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org to register as an organ and tissue donor.

New Jersey Meadowlands Commission hosts fishy event

The NJ Meadowlands Commission will present “Fantastic Fish” with the help of Dr. Seuss on Sunday, Oct. 21 from 1 to 2 p.m. Participants will explore the life of a fish from small fry to adult. They will also meet the fish common to a salt water marsh and learn how they live. Admission is $10 per adult and one child. MEC members pay $8 per adult and one child. The event is open to ages 3 and 4 and will be at the Meadowlands Environment Center on Two DeKorte Park Plaza in Lyndhurst.

For more information, contact (201) 460-8300 or visit www.njmeadowlands.gov/ec.